A Tale of Two Speeches
This is a little late, following on last Thursday's portrait-hanging for George W. Bush. Even the Associated Press reported that the former President stole the show: he was warm, witty and self-effacing, while President Obama was cold, perfunctory, and (surprise!) self-referential. A former WH colleague said he read President Bush's speech when former President Clinton came for his portrait hanging. Again, since I didn't write it -- methinks it was the work of wordsmith John McConnell -- I can praise it.
But the differences -- in tone, in depth, in everything -- are striking.
Here's President Obama on President Bush:
The months before I took the oath of office were a chaotic time. We knew our economy was in trouble, our fellow Americans were in pain, but we wouldn’t know until later just how breathtaking the financial crisis had been. And still, over those two and a half months -- in the midst of that crisis -- President Bush, his Cabinet, his staff, many of you who are here today, went out of your ways -- George, you went out of your way -- to make sure that the transition to a new administration was as seamless as possible.
President Bush understood that rescuing our economy was not just a Democratic or a Republican issue; it was a American priority. I’ll always be grateful for that.
The same is true for our national security. None of us will ever forget where we were on that terrible September day when our country was attacked. All of us will always remember the image of President Bush standing on that pile of rubble, bullhorn in hand, conveying extraordinary strength and resolve to the American people but also representing the strength and resolve of the American people.
And last year, when we delivered justice to Osama bin Laden, I made it clear that our success was due to many people in many organizations working together over many years -- across two administrations. That’s why my first call once American forces were safely out of harm’s way was to President Bush. Because protecting our country is neither the work of one person, nor the task of one period of time, it’s an ongoing obligation that we all share.
Finally, on a personal note, Michelle and I are grateful to the entire Bush family for their guidance and their example during our own transition.
Now compare that with what George W. Bush said about Bill Clinton during the last unveiling of a presidential portrait, back in 2004:
As a candidate for any office, whether it be the state attorney general or the President, Bill Clinton showed incredible energy and great personal appeal. As chief executive, he showed a deep and far-ranging knowledge of public policy, a great compassion for people in need, and the forward-looking spirit the Americans like in a President. Bill Clinton could always see a better day ahead -- and Americans knew he was working hard to bring that day closer.
Over eight years, it was clear that Bill Clinton loved the job of the presidency. He filled this house with energy and joy. He's a man of enthusiasm and warmth, who could make a compelling case and effectively advance the causes that drew him to public service.
People saw those gifts very early in Bill Clinton. He is remembered in Hope, Arkansas, and other places along the way, as an eager, good-hearted boy who seemed destined for big things. I was particularly struck by the story of a nun at St. John's School in Hot Springs who decided that Billy Clinton should get a C in deportment. That was a rare grade for the future Rhodes Scholar and President. So Bill's mother gave the nun a call to see what was wrong. The sister replied, "Oh, nothing much. But let me tell you, this boy knows the answer to every question and he just leaps to his feet before anyone else can." She went on, you know, "I know he'll not tolerate this C, but it'll be good for him. And I promise you, if he wants to be, he will be President someday."
People in Bill Clinton's life have always expected him to succeed -- and, more than that, they wanted him to succeed. And meeting those expectations took more than charm and intellect -- it took hard work and drive and determination and optimism. And after all, you've got to be optimistic to give six months of your life running the McGovern campaign in Texas.
He won his first statewide office at age 30, sworn in as governor at 32. He was a five-time governor of Arkansas, the first man from that state to become the President. He's also the first man in his party since Franklin Roosevelt to win a second term in the White House. And I could tell you more of the story, but it's coming out in fine bookstores all over America.
At every stage in the extraordinary rise of Bill Clinton, from the little ranch house on Scully Street to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, he and Roger had a wonderful, loving mother. And I am certain that Virginia Kelley would be filled with incredible pride this morning.
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Comments:
Re: A Tale of Two Speeches
Bill, the comparison is striking. At the portrait unveiling, President Bush joked about how his successor could now gaze at the painting on the wall and ask: What would George do? If only President Obama had asked himself that question before the ceremony. We might then be talking about a very different speech.
Edited on June 8, 2012 at 10:48pmApr '11
Re: A Tale of Two Speeches
Thank you for that Bill. It reveals that the president was raised and continues to be enabled along the way to learn only one lesson; that he is the best and the brightest, whatever the situation, and that the spotlight must remain on him regardless of whom else deserves their rightful share.
He sadly missed two of life's most important lessons; humility and gratitude and as such will continue to diminish in stature until he becomes irrelevant.
(He does, by the way, know more about presidential portrait unveiling ceremonies than any other president who has come before him) but I digress.
Dec '10
Re: A Tale of Two Speeches
My incharitable thought is that something like this was crossed off Obama's checklist:
"Hang 43"
Re: A Tale of Two Speeches
The self-referential part is what struck me. I kept wondering when he was going to say something nice about George that didn't involve him.
Jan '12
Re: A Tale of Two Speeches
You know, when all is said and done, George W. Bush is a man profoundly at home with himself, while Barak Hussein Obama is fundamentally self-estranged and thus horribly obsessed with the need for adulation. Judge the circumstance and the mode as you will, but at a certain time in his life, Bush performed an act of contrition. Obama is so self-absorbed that the concept and the need for its performance has never even once broached the outer limits of his attention.
Edited on June 8, 2012 at 11:01pmJul '10
Re: A Tale of Two Speeches
This president is a graceless clod who is the light of his own life, if no one else's. He not only does not distinguish between his political functions and head of state duties, but he does not appear capable of doing so. I cannot imagine him showing any more maturity when a president Romney hosts his hanging.
Aug '10
Re: A Tale of Two Speeches
W is a Gentleman.
May '10
Re: A Tale of Two Speeches
Truly nice people always reveal their class.
Sep '10
Re: A Tale of Two Speeches
A simple statistic, call it the IQ or the "I" quotient: the ratio of total words divided by the number of occurrences of the word "I". The less self-referential, the higher the IQ. For the full text of both speeches:
Bush IQ = 107
Obama IQ = 68
Quantitative evidence that Bush has a higher IQ.
Oct '11
Re: A Tale of Two Speeches
drlorentz
A simple statistic, call it the IQ or the "I" quotient: the ratio of total words divided by the number of occurrences of the word "I". The less self-referential, the higher the IQ. For the full text of both speeches:
Bush IQ = 107
Obama IQ = 68
Quantitative evidence that Bush has a higher IQ. · 50 minutes ago
The warmth that GW showed in comparison to the cold id coming from BO, is what struck me! I do "miss him yet" .
Edited on June 9, 2012 at 1:51amApr '12
Re: A Tale of Two Speeches
Hard to imagine the audacity. Spitting at tradition and being just plain rude seems to be the norm with this administration, starting with their return of Winston Churchill's bust to the British. Of course, Romney will be gracious with his speech for Obama's portrait unveiling.
Oct '10
Re: A Tale of Two Speeches
I think you have to hear the remarks, because the written words seem fine. But hearing Obambi deliver his remarks compared to W delivering his, that was a huge difference.
Nov '10
Re: A Tale of Two Speeches
This is why George W. Bush is a better man than I; if someone had treated me the way Barack Obama has treated, him I couldn't stand to be in the same room with him.
Yes. If there's one thing, other than their own desperation, that the MSM's hilariously strained attempts to find something with which to attack Romney's character has shown us it's that he is a fundamentally good person.